Pope Francis was quoted in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica saying that data from his advisors indicates about two percent of Catholic clergy are pedophiles. That figure would mean the church is host to roughly 8,000 pedophiles worldwide, according to BBC News.

The bombshell number came packaged with a headline that quoted the Pope saying, "Like Jesus, I will use a stick against pedophile priests." The religious figure cited the current situation with the church as "intolerable."

However, a Vatican spokesperson told BBC News the quotes in the paper were not Pope Francis' exact words, but did not refute the content.

You can read more at BBC News and Time.

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